Workout routines prompt the human body to expend energy and burn calories. But there is another factor that also helps in burning calories and that is NEAT.
NEAT is abbreviated to Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis. It refers to calories burned by any physical activity that does not count as exercise. This includes spontaneous physical movements that result from cleaning, walking around, cooking and more similar day-to-day activities.
This article explains how the body uses energy from calories for different functions and why NEAT is also an important function.
CALORIE UTILIZATION IN THE BODY
Energy is required by the human body for various functions and this energy is derived from the calories we consume every day. The body burns these calories to generate energy for the following activities:
- Basal Metabolic Rate(BMR) : A large percentage of energy is mandatorily used by the body to perform critical, life-giving functions like breathing, circulation and nutrient processing, among a whole lot more.
- The total number of calories required to disperse energy for all these vital life functions is called the Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR). This differs from person to person based on age, anatomy, gender and other similar factors.
- Exercise: Apart from BMR, there is a certain quantity of calories that get expended whenever the body indulges in any planned exercises or workouts.
- To process food: Calories are also converted into energy for the purpose of processing food. This includes energy for digestion, absorption, transportation and storage of food consumed.
- NEAT: The rest of the calories go in generating energy for non-exercise activities like walking, cleaning, fidgeting or making any minor body movements and other such unplanned physical activities.
NEAT HABITS
If your job keeps you active every day, then NEAT already has a place in your lifestyle. But if your work and lifestyle is mostly sedentary, then adding NEAT can greatly help in maintaining overall health. NEAT can be included in very simple, effective ways:
- At work, whenever possible, walk over to talk to colleagues instead of E-mails and phone calls.
- Pace around when talking on the phone. Use the stairs more often.
- At home, maximize movement by keeping things a little out of reach in order to get up more often. Try Netflix and NEAT.
- Cleaning, cooking and walking more often also contribute to NEAT.
BALANCING EXERCISE AND NEAT
While it is extremely important to maintain the number of calories consumed every day, it is just as essential to focus on getting in some physical activity.
That being said, even if you work out for an hour every day but then sit at a desk job for the rest of the 6-8 hours, the body is still more idle than active. And this is why NEAT comes recommended.
Energy expended from NEAT-like activities are just as significant in helping with fat loss and keeping active by cultivating a habit that becomes instinctive in the long run.
Stay active, happy and healthy!
